International News

WorldFebruary 20212021International NewsAfrica

Turbulent Take-Off: COVID-19 Immunization Efforts Finally Roll Out in South Africa

After a turbulent take-off, the South African government has finally started vaccinating its people against the COVID-19 virus. The country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was among the first six people to receive the jab, according to VOA. Earlier in the month, the South African government halted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on frontline workers after a study found it not to be effective enough against the variant prevalent in that country.

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WorldFebruary 20212021International NewsEurope

Putin Critic Detained Upon Arrival in Moscow

CNBC reports that Russian opposition leader and Putin critic, Alexei Navalny, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison following his return to Russia in January. Navalny has been on a wanted list since 2014 for allegedly violating the terms of a suspended sentence. Upon his arrival at the airport in Moscow, Russian authorities arrested him before he could even get his passport stamped.

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WorldFebruary 20212021International NewsAsia

Glacier Collapse in Uttarakhand Leaves at Least 30 Dead and Nearly 200 Missing

On February 7, 2021, a massive glacier in the Himalayan mountain range collapsed, leaving at least 32 dead and almost 200 missing in the state of Uttarakhand. Part of a glacier near the Nanda Devi mountain broke off into a river, breaking dams, sweeping away bridges, and destroying hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers. Numerous towns had to be evacuated, and 13 villages are still being resupplied by air after being cut off by the flood waters, according to Reuters.

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February 20212021WorldInternational NewsAmericas

Canada to Take Vaccines from COVAX

Canada is defending its decision to accept coronavirus vaccines from COVAX, a program developed to help low- and middle- income countries with the vaccination process. According to The Washington Post, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that the Canadian government “will never apologize” for doing what they can to vaccinate Canadians alongside the rest of the world.

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WorldFebruary 20212021International NewsAmericas

Haitian President Accused of Outstaying His Term

Haitian President Jovenel Moise announced on January 31 that he and his government had foiled an attempted coup by the opposition party. France 24 reports that the Moise government arrested 23 people, including one of Haiti’s three supreme court judges, whom they claim were all involved with the conspiracy to oust President Moise and replace him with a new interim president.

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February 20212021International NewsAfricaEurope

Shell Ordered to Compensate Nigerian Farmers Over Oil Spill

A Dutch court has held the Nigerian subsidiary of the British-Dutch multinational Royal Dutch Shell liable for several oil spills in the Nigerian Niger Delta in 2006 and 2007, The New York Times reports. This case, which concludes a 13 year-long legal battle between four Nigerian farmers and the company, will likely be a catalyst for more successful environmental cases against multinational oil firms.

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